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Black Tie & Tales

+ What she did for love
In this case, it would be for the love of animals rescued by the Humane Society of Manatee County, which has been a no-kill facility since its founding in 1970. Its latest fundraiser is a 15-month “Paws and Passion” calendar featuring supporters au naturel, including Lillian Sands, photographed with her twin Malteses, China and Scout. The calendar had its first launch Nov. 17 and will have another from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3, at The Polo Grill, in Lakewood Ranch. The wine-and-cheese event is free; the calendar is $20. For more information or to buy a calendar, call 747-8808 or e-mail [email protected]. And, no, the models were not wearing body suits.

+ ’Tis the season of wishes
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Few donations are more satisfying to make. Especially if you do it before the year end during the “Season of Wishes” when up to $25,000 contributed to the Suncoast Sarasota Region chapter will be matched by a grant from JCI Chemical.

One opportunity is the fifth annual “Daydreams and Wishes” fashion show and luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Michael’s On East. Professional models will show “the best of Saks,” according to General Manager Sally Schule. And Michelle Butler, regional director of Make-A-Wish, says the program will include “a very special, unusual wish from a 15-year-old boy that will bring down the house.” More than that, she isn’t telling.

There’s also a brand-new event from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 12, at Michael’s. Butler says, “We wanted to come up with something that’s exciting and fun for the kids. And board member Phil Mancini said, ‘Let’s have Christmas in Candyland with Santa, mountains of sweets and all kinds of interactive edibles. The kids can decorate cookies, cupcakes, make s’mores.’ Who knows what sweets he’ll come up with?” Mancini and Michael Klauber are underwriting the event, increasing the yield for Make-A-Wish.
For more information or reservations for both events, contact Butler at 952-WISH or [email protected].

+ A symphonic hit
Rarely have there been more people, more food or more music at Michael’s On East than at Sunday’s season opener brunch for the Sarasota Orchestra. There were 396 guests and food stations everywhere. Co-Chairwomen Marsha Panuce and Bunny Skirboll made good on their promise of “360 degrees of music” with stages on three sides of the ballroom and performances by the Sarasota Brass Quintet, the Sarasota String Quartet, the Sarasota Wind Quintet, the Sarasota Piano Quartet and orchestra principal harpist Cheryl Losey. This was a change of pace for the orchestra, which has traditionally opened the season with a pre-performance dinner that draws around 250 people. Separating the opening from a concert obviously broadened the potential audience and, as committee member Beathe Elden said, “Even in bad times, people want to have music lifting their souls.” The only thing missing was Chief Development Officer Barbara Simon, who was in New York for the birth of a grandchild.

+ From too much love of living
A special item on the agenda for the American Academy of Psychotherapists meeting held last week at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota was the celebration of the life of Sol Rosenberg, Ph. D., who died Aug. 10 at age 87. He so loved his work that he saw patients at his home when he was no longer able to go to his office. Rosenberg will be long-cherished for his passion and compassion, humor and wisdom and, perhaps most of all, the twinkle in his eyes.

+ BT tidbitsIs that a man or a woman? … See unbelievable female impersonators at Divas Las Vegas at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23, at Michael’s On East. Benefiting Community AIDS Network, it is one of the best shows in town. Jim Neal and Ron Carter, of Mr. Florist, started and continue to run the Divas After Dark series. Call them for reservations at 365-6922 … Happy birthday, dear dentist ... Dr. Charles Miller celebrated his 85th Nov. 13, at Café L’Europe, with his wife, Barbara, and friends from here and his hometown of Pittsburgh. Miller is still active in his practice and much loved by his patients … Now open to the public … the Bay Preserve at Osprey. The grand opening goes on all week with a Sarasota Crew demonstration at 4 p.m. Nov. 19, a “Jazzy Waterfront Picnic” (BYO lunch) from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 and a Fall Family Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 21. The Bay Preserve is a property of the Sarasota Conservation Foundation, founded in 2003 by Albert Joerger, to protect bays, beaches and barrier islands. The organization is changing its name to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, reflecting its more extensive operations …